Disclaimer: The SWAT Kats are owned by Hanna Barbera and the Tremblay Brothers. I own the OCs.
I have to thank my Co-Author again for making sure that I got the emotions correct.
T-Bone was definitely feeling better. He was eating a light meal and doing something he had never envisioned himself doing: discussing wedding plans with Razor. He finally asked, "So, where are you and Caliber planning on exchanging your vows?"
"To be honest, buddy, we have been so busy preparing to bust Dark Kat, we have not had a chance to discuss it. I just am looking forward to seeing Caliber walking down the aisle in her wedding dress," Razor replied as he wiped some dirt from T-Bone's face with a napkin. Then he asked as he placed the napkin down on the tray, "What about you? Have you thought about where you want to get married?"
T-Bone had always thought that getting married in a large chapel would be ideal, and then he thought about how beautiful the beach behind their new home was. He imagined Callie walking down an aisle that was lined with their family and friends standing in the sand, and the peaceful sounds of the waves crashing in the background. He said, "Ever since my brothers started getting married, I thought that getting married in a chapel was the thing to do. Then I saw that stretch of beach behind the house, and all of that changed. I want to get married on the beach behind the house that Callista has given us. I want to hear the waves crashing against the sand, and the smell of the sea air. Mostly, I want to see Empress walking down the aisle with her long hair blowing slightly in the sea breeze."
Razor smiled as the image developed in his mind. He also wanted his wedding day to be very special for both him and Felina. He said, "That would make a beautiful wedding, T-Bone, and I am sure that Empress will make an absolutely beautiful bride. What tom in his right mind would not want to have someone as beautiful as her walking ever so slowly towards him? Except me, of course. I have my own angel that is going to be walking towards me."
T-Bone started to tear up as he thought about how Callie would look in her wedding dress, and how happy he was going be when she said those simple little words, 'I Do.' He asked Razor, "Buddy, I have not been as close to my relatives as I should be, so I have a favor to ask. Would you be my best man?"
"Of course, T-Bone, as long as you are mine. Unlike you, I don't have any siblings," Razor said as he took T-Bone's paw in his.
As Razor was speaking, a young nurse came into the room in order to check T-Bone's dressings. She asked, "May pull down your blanket? I need to check and change the bandages on your leg."
"Go right ahead, miss," T-Bone replied.
She pulled down the blanket and took a look at the bandages. They were soaked with dried blood and other bodily fluids. She then said, "I need to change the bandages. This might hurt a little." She removed the tape that was holding the bandage together and started to remove the old bandages. She grabbed a bottle of sterile water and a sponge to clean the stitched area. As she cleaned T-Bone's incision, she felt the strong muscles in his leg, and how his fur brushed against her paw. She started to blush as her body started to betray her.
T-Bone felt the nurse's gentle cleaning of his incision, and he started to feel very warm himself. He just lay there, smiling as she cleaned his wound.
Razor saw the way that the nurse kept blushing as she tended to T-Bone's bandages, and how T-Bone was behaving. He stepped in and said as the nurse's paw traveled a little farther up T-Bone's leg than she intended, "I think that I had better take it from here, miss."
The nurse flushed from embarrassment. She had never intended to let her actions go that far, but she had not been able to help herself. T-Bone had always been a dream catch for her and several other young she-cats. She said nervously, "I am sorry, T-Bone. I had only intended to do my job, but I've had a crush on you for years, ever since I first saw you in that tight-fitting flight suit. Actually being able to touch you is like a dream come true, and I took it too far. I won't do anything like that again, I promise. Please don't tell the head nurse! I would be fired, and I need this job."
T-Bone replied, "Don't worry, my lips are sealed, miss. I suggest that you don't come back, though. I don't want to see you get fired."
"Oh, thank you! I will transfer your care to one of the other nurses, and once again, I'm sorry for the trouble I caused," she said as she gathered her supplies and left the room.
Razor watched her leave, and then turned his attention back to T-Bone's leg, giving the bandage an extra yank as he wound it tight.
T-Bone winced as Razor secured the bandage. He asked, "Why did you do that, Razor?"
"She has it bad for you, and you were going to just sit there and let her have her way with you? You are just lucky that Empress was not here to witness that. Not only would she have torn that nurse's head off, she would have removed something that you might need again in the future, if you are planning on having more kittens," Razor replied as he finished securing the bandage.
"I would have stopped her; I love Empress too much to let anything happen that would hurt her in any way," T-Bone said as he looked towards the wall, obviously embarrassed at the way he had let the nurse touch him.
Meanwhile, the girls were all having fun. The radio was blasting, they were laughing, and even Tina, who really didn't want to go, was getting into the excitement. Although, she would have rather sat next to Katerina than Callista. If she had been thinking straight, instead of fighting with Felina over getting in the car, she could have watched where Katerina was sitting and slid in beside her. As it was, Felina had all but forced her in, leaving her to take the only space available.
They pulled into the parking lot of the spa that Callie directed Felina to. Felina parked the car and they all got out.
Callie said to the group, "Here we are girls; this is the best place I know for she-cats to relax and be pampered. Shall we head in? I hear that the masseuses are real hunks."
They all looked at the building and smiled. As they walked through the double glass doors of the spa, the scent of lilac wafted around them like a gentle breeze. The lobby had marble floor tiles, and the walls were either marble or a very good replica. The ceiling had an ornate painting on it that looked like a clear blue sky with a few white puffy clouds. The faint rushing sound of a waterfall off in the distance completed the aura of relaxation that seemed to permeate the entire area.
They were greeted by a taller she-cat with strawberry-blonde hair that fell straight to her waist. She was attired in a white, low-cut mini-dress that was obviously styled after a toga, and fluffy slippers. She said, "Welcome to Paradise Spa. How can I assist you today?
Callie replied, "My friends and I would like the works, please. Facials, manicures, massages, and most of all, a dip in the hot springs."
"Of course, we will be delighted to serve you ladies today. If you will follow me to the locker rooms, you can change into your robes and slippers there," the hostess said before looking at her appointment book. She looked back up at the group and said, "You are in luck. Two of our best masseuses are available today. Ferdinand and Antonio are usually booked for months in advance. From what I hear from the clients, their paws can work magic on a she-cat."
She led them to the locker room and said as they started changing, "I recommend starting with a massage, then hitting the hot spring to further loosen your muscles. After your soak, get a facial, and then a manicure. Of course, you will need a trip to our sauna. The dry heat is a perfect way of ending a day of pampering. Once you have changed, please meet me out front and we will get you started." The hostess left the locker room after she finished speaking.
As they removed their clothing and were slipping into the robes, Katerina looked over at Tina and saw a really bad scar on her back. She walked over to Tina and softly placed her right paw on the top of the scar. She asked, "Tina, what happened that caused this?"
Tina felt Katerina's soft touch, and felt compelled to tell her exactly how she had received that scar, but she turned to toward the locker instead and said as a single tear left her eye, "I really don't want to talk about it, Katerina."
Katerina did not want to see Tina upset for any reason. She removed her paw from the scar, gently brought it under Tina's chin, and turned her head so they faced each other. She said, "You don't have to hide anything from me, Tina. We are now friends, and friends tell each other when things are bothering them."
Tina hated having to admit what had caused her scar, but she also knew that if she had any chance of a relationship with Katerina, the truth would come out eventually, anyway. One that would, hopefully, not end as badly as her last one. She stirred up enough courage and said, "My last lover was not the most loving cat. I caught her with another in a very intimate moment. When I started screaming 'I thought you loved me and that there was no other,' she got up out of our bed and grabbed me. But just before she threw me against a doorframe, she said, 'Why would I love a pathetic she-cat like you, Tina? Sure, you are good in the sack, but you are overly clingy and too needy. Get out before I start wanting to kill you.' I hit the doorframe hard enough that it splintered and cut my back open. I had to get thirty stitches and lay on my stomach for a few days while the cut healed."
Katerina was flabbergasted that any cat could do that to another. The fact that Tina said her former lover was female didn't matter to her at all. The only thing she wanted to do was comfort Tina. Katerina brought both of her paws around Tina and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Tina was absolutely shocked as Katerina pulled her into her arms. Not only had Katerina not even blinked at the fact that Tina's former lover had been a she-cat, Katerina was now holding her in a loving embrace that somehow just felt right. Tina placed her paws on Katerina's back and returned the embrace as she placed her head on Katerina's shoulder. She started to purr in contentment.
Katerina felt and heard Tina's purring, and it comforted her more deeply than she would have thought possible. She smiled and started stroking Tina's back.
Tina was now starting to feel that she belonged in Katerina's arms. She did not want Katerina to let her go, ever. For what seemed like the first time in her life, she felt what appeared to be true love for another. She lifted her head off of Katerina's shoulder, looked into Katerina's eyes, and let instinct take over as she kissed Katerina.
Calliista, Callie, and Felina all heard Tina telling her tale of her former lover hurting her. Felina was so mad at Tina's ex that she wanted to go over and demand that she-cat's name, just so she could go and kick her tail into the next county. But then they all saw Tina kissing Katerina. Felina already knew that Tina liked Katerina, but she hadn't expected Tina to kiss Katerina right in front of her newly found friends.
Callie and Callista had also overheard Tina's tale and were very upset. Then they both saw Tina kissing Katerina, and let that emotion fall away as they saw how Tina's mood changed as she let herself go.
Katerina felt Tina's lips on hers and went wide-eyed for a second in surprise. She had never been kissed by another female before, and she did not know how to deal with it at first. Then she felt what could only be Tina's emotions for her behind the kiss, and how Tina cared for her as her own emotional floodgate opened. She asked herself, "Could I really be falling for another female? There were other females in my squadron that had lovers who were also on the squadron, and it didn't bother me at all. In fact, I was actually jealous of them for having someone to be with while I had no one." Having answered her own question, returned Tina's kiss.
Tina had not expected Katerina to return her kiss. She had been expecting Katerina to turn tail and run away from her in disgust. But when she returned the kiss, Tina felt that she had found the she-cat that she was destined to be with. Tina pulled back from the kiss and said, "Wow, I have wanted to do that since I met you in the mall."
Katerina was still felling butterflies in her stomach from Tina's kiss. She placed her forehead against Tina's and said, "I am glad you did that. I have not felt such emotion behind a kiss in such a very long time." She rubbed her nose against Tina's after she finished speaking.
Callie placed her arms around Felina and Callista. She was very happy that Katerina and their newfound friend Tina had found each other. She leaned over and said to Felina, "What do you want to bet that Tina asks Katerina to marry her in no more than six months?"
Felina smiled and replied, "I would not even take that bet. Those two are going to make a great couple."
"Ferdinand and Antonio are ready for you. Let's get you.. oh my," the hostess said, surprised to see Katerina and Tina in an embrace with their noses intimately rubbing against each other. "Not that I mind, but I have clientele that would not be comfortable with you two showing your affection for each other. Please refrain from displaying your love for each other here."
Katerina let go of Tina, but placed her right paw in Tina's left and said to the hostess, "Sorry, but we have just found each other, and if your establishment has a problem with two cats showing that they care for each other, then tough."
Callie really didn't want to start any trouble in the spa, although she didn't see a problem with Tina and Katerina showing their affection to each other, either, whether they were in public or not. "My friends will try to keep their 'Public Displays of Affection' to a low level while they are here, right?" she said as she turned to face Katerina and Tina.
Tina was happy that Katerina felt so strongly about letting their feelings for each other be known, but she understood where the hostess was coming from, and that Callie didn't want to cause the spa any problems. She said as she gave Katerina's paw a gentle squeeze, "We will try to keep our PDA's under control, ma'am."
The hostess smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. She really didn't want to ask them to leave the premises, but she had to protect the establishment's best interests, no matter what she thought personally. She said, "Your tables are waiting for you, girls. I promise that once you feel their paws on your backs, you will feel like you are in heaven."
Callie and Callista chuckled at that remark, since they had just recently been to purgatory, so they had firsthand experience as to what it was like there, but they were not going to tell anyone outside their inner circle about that experience.
They were all led out of the locker room and down another marble lined hall to several rooms that were divided by thick, red velvet curtains hung on golden rods. The hostess opened one of the curtains and asked, "Who wants to be Ferdinand's first customer?"
They all looked at each other, trying to figure out which one of them should go first. Then Callie, Katerina, Tina, and Felina looked directly at Callista.
"You are going first, Callista, since you are the eldest among us," Felina said as she gave Callista a gentle shove in the direction of the hostess.
Callista didn't exactly take too kindly to being called the "eldest," even if it was true. She gave Felina an evil look, but just before she disappeared behind the curtain, she wiggled her nose and gave Felina a magical punch in the arm.
Felina felt something hit her in the arm, hard, and she flinched. She leaned over to Callie and said, "Remind me never to make you or your grandmother mad at me."
Callie looked over at Felina, saw her rubbing her arm, and said, "If you didn't do things that make us mad at you, then you would not have to deal with stuff like this."
Tina saw Felina standing there with a smirk on her face after giving Callista a gentle shove towards the hostess, and then she saw her flinch and rub her arm as she spoke to Callie. She started to wonder why Felina was rubbing her arm when no one had actually touched her, and why did she say, 'Remind me never to make you or your grandmother mad at me.' What was so special about those two?
The hostess turned to the rest of the group, and said as she walked across the hall, "Who is next? Antonio is waiting."
Callie turned to Katerina and said, "Why don't you go? I am sure you haven't had a real good massage in a long time, and it will give me a chance to get to know your girlfriend."
Katerina smiled at hearing Callie call Tina her girlfriend. Despite the hostess' wishes, she leaned over and kissed Tina before saying, "I'll be right back." She looked up at Callie and Felina, then back at Tina and said, "Don't let these two she-cats bully you into telling them anything that you don't want to." She then walked towards the curtain, only letting her paw slip away from Tina's at the last possible moment.
Tina watched her girlfriend disappear behind the curtain, smiling the whole time because she was so happy that Katerina was now her girlfriend and not afraid to show it to anyone.
Callie watched Katerina walk behind the curtain and her paw's lingering touch with Tina's. She leaned over to Felina and said, "Remember that bet we talked about? Forget it. I give them three months before one of them asks the other for their paw."
Felina chuckled at Callie's remark. She replied after placing her arm around Callie, "Now, that is one bet I will take in a heartbeat." She then reached out her arm, grabbed Tina by the collar of her robe, and said, "Let's go, cadet. There is a hot spring waiting for us, and I want to use it to full advantage."
The hostess came back after getting Katerina setup with Antonio. She said, "You mentioned that you are ready to use the hot springs? They are right down this hall, please follow me." She led them back down the hall and turned right, down another marble lined hallway. But this hall's floor had an aggregate built into it to prevent slipping. The slippers that they were wearing grabbed the aggregate and provided a bit if of resistance as they walked across the floor.
They arrived at a pair of frosted glass double doors with 2-inch, gold tubular push bars. The hostess pushed one of the doors open, and they were hit with a blast of hot and humid air, as well as the sound of water falling into a pool. The hostess said as she led them through the doors, "You can hang your robes up on the wall over there." She pointed to a wall to their left that had several wooden dowels with rounded ends protruding from it. "There are clean towels in the bin to the right. Enjoy your soak." She left them alone after speaking.
They all heard the rubber gaskets seal the room off from the rest of the spa as the door closed. They quickly read the rules for using the hot springs and paused on the line that read 'Street clothing is not permitted in the springs. Thank You for your cooperation.'
They removed their robes as well as their underwear and hung them on the wall as they were instructed to by the hostess, then walked over to the bin with the towels and grabbed one towel each before walking towards the stairs that led into the springs.
As they descended down the stairs into the pool that the springs dumped into, they felt the hot water slowly moving up their legs, eventually encompassing their bodies all the way up to their necks. They waded through the pool and over to a set of benches that were built into the sides of the pool. They sat down and leaned back, letting the hot water whisk their cares away.
The hostess closed the door to the room that housed the springs. Her warm smile left her face as she made her way back to the hostess' station. She picked up the phone and started to dial.
"Yes, my daughter, what can I do for you?" the cat on the other end of the line asked.
"Father, a she-cat by the name of Callista is here with her granddaughter and her granddaughter's friends. Could she be the same Callista that you and the Society have been trying to even the score with for years?" the hostess asked.
"Possibly, my daughter. What did she look like?" her father asked.
"She has long, flowing blonde hair, green eyes, fair-colored fur, and a beauty mark on her left cheek, father," the hostess replied.
"Yes, that is her. Do nothing out of the ordinary, my daughter. I don't want to alert her that something might be up," her father said.
"I will do as you say, Father," The hostess said, then hung up the phone.
Her father hung up the phone and said, "So Callista, your death was just a deception to keep us away from your family. You have been a thorn in our sides for centuries. Now, it's time for us to take revenge, and if you don't comply with our wishes? Your granddaughter will pay, with her life."
End of Chapter.